By Thaimu Thullah
Sierra Leone Government under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio has declared Abu Kamara Bah, a social media commentator and activist wanted following his continuous criticism on Facebook, TikTok and other social media platforms against the SLPP Government.
This was made known to the press through a news conference held at the Headquarters of the Sierra Leone Police in Freetown wherein concerns were raised by the Inspector General William Fayia Sellu.
According to IG, ” we are concern about some of the bad and negative news put out on social media . We have observed that one Abu Bakarr Bah among others is in the habit of spreading fake and inciting news on his platform to trigger political unrest. Abu Bakarr is on record to have been engaged on this since 2018, our findings have uncovered. Therefore, as officers of the law, we would not sit down and allow every Jack and Jill to attack the government. President Bio was duly elected and he still has five years until his term of office expires” IG Fayia Sellu stated.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernoh Bah added that the likes of Abu Bakarr Bah and Adebayo should be extradited to stand trial for crimes against the state. He maintained that some of these social media commentators were the very ones responsible for all the unrest we have experienced over the past years. ” Since President Bio came to office in 2018, people like Abu Bakarr are among those who have been using the social media to tarnish the image of the government. We want them to know that there are laws in Sierra Leone. We will bring them to answer for their crimes under the Cyber Security Law.
It could be recalled that very recently journalists as well civil society activists have not been spared by the government under the new Cyber Security Law. Thomas Pa Ali Babadi , a Civil Society Activist and Thomas Dixon, a journalist were invited by the Criminal Investigation Department on allegations of ” Cyber bully” by the State.
Sierra Leone is now hell for critical and fearless journalists and civil society activists as well social media commentators. Abu Bakarr Bah has been declared wanted alongside others who the police considers are a threat to national security.